Chapter 392: An Accident

Chapter 392: An Accident

The faint magic shimmering around Emily ebbed in and out of existence as it struggled to find any purchase in the outside world in the face of Noahs domain. Keeping it thin enough to let Emily use her power while also making sure it would snuff anything that might be too dangerous was proving to be considerably more difficult than Noah had expected. He needed to keep the invisible energy at the perfect level, and he just wasnt quite a master of manipulating it yet.

But, even in spite of that, Emily continued pouring energy and effort into her pattern. Her strikes flew through the air aimed at nothing in particular, the howling gales of a snowstorm embodied within her. The air around Emily dropped just faintly enough in temperature to make Noahs skin prickle.

He said nothing. Any words might have interrupted her focus and there was nothing that Noah needed to say. Emily was doing everything exactly how he wanted her to. Even though her magic-infused pattern was still relatively useless, the important part was that she was using it.

Her hands finally dropped at her sides and she released the pattern, kneeling over to brace her hands against her knees and breathing heavily. After she caught her breath she looked up at Noah. Pushing the hair out of her face, she straightened.

Did I do it? Emily asked.

He released his domain and let it return to its normal form around both of them. Did you do it? You did fantastic!

I did? Emily blinked. Seriously?

You couldnt tell?

Not really. A grin spread across Emilys lips. I mean, it felt a bit cold and I could tell I was doing something, but I didnt know if that something was the thing I was meant to be doing or if I was just floundering around.

I would have stopped you if it was wrong. You did great.

What exactly did I do?

Noah coughed into his fist. Well, nothing. But, if were speaking strictly technically, you started making a Formation.

Emily stared at Noah, her grin twitching. It fell away when it became clear that Noah was telling the truth. Emily looked down at her hands, then back to Noah, a befuddled frown on her face. What? That was a Formation? I used a Formation?

The beginning of one, Noah corrected. If anything, you can think of that as the first step of laying the guidelines for a Formation.

Dont you need to combine a bunch of runes for a Formation?

Yes and no. You need to find a way to balance it. Just like the runes in your own soul. If youve got 7 identical runes in your soul, it can eventually cause an imbalance in pressure. This is a somewhat similar principle. You need a way to hold in the runes that you use in the formation. The pattern itself handles a good portion of that why do you think that is?

Emily chewed the insides of her cheeks and tapped a foot on the ground as she thought. Is it something to do with what you were talking about regarding patterns and runes? Like patterns are kind of runes or something like that?

Exactly, Noah said. At least, thats my running theory. Runes are just patterns that hold power. The patterns in a Formation can have a similar effect to having other Runes in opposition to balance out the pressure.

So I can make a Formation with just one rune?

You could make the housing with one rune. There wouldnt be much reason making a whole Formation with just one rune because the whole point of a Formation is to amplify the runes power or combine them with other runes. Ive frequently made Formations that are focused on maximizing the power of a single rune, but other runes go into the rest of the Formation in order to help its pattern contain the power running through it.

Youre probably right about that, Emily said with a snort of laughter. Hes such a lazy idiot.

Lazy, yes. Idiot, Im not so sure. Then again, I dont think Emily actually thinks that way either. The way she talks about James isnt the way youd speak about someone you dont like. You arent fooling anyone, kid.

Noah stepped onto his flying sword and nodded to Emily. Lets head back down there and swap you out for someone else, shall we? And remember, dont tell anyone about what we covered. Not yet. I dont want someone getting overexcited and blowing themselves up by accident.

The way you say that makes me think youve got firsthand experience with it, Emily said as she got on behind him and held onto his shoulders. Noah activated the flying sword and it lifted into the air.

I do.

The sword zipped into motion, taking them over the edge of the plateau before Emily could say anything else. Wind streaked past them in swirls that nipped at their eyes and hair. They flew in, touching down on the ground a short distance from the others. Isabel and James were both in a sparring match against Lee, and it didnt look like theyd yet to land a single blow on her.

Isabels sword streaked through the air. Nothing but wind from its passing came close to Lee. James faded in and out of sight, using flashes of light in attempt to blind Lee, but she wasnt even fighting with her eyes open. The only thing she needed to know where they were was her sense of smell.

Emily headed over to join the others and Noah approached Alexandra. He tapped her on the shoulder, then jerked his head toward the flying sword, not wanting to make noise that would distract anyone sparring.

Alexandra didnt need to be told twice. She followed Noah back to the sword and, after he waved to Moxie, they took off and flew back up to the plateau that he and Emily had just been on.

Well then, Noah said as he stepped off the sword and turned to Alexandra. As Im sure youve come to realize, youre probably the farthest along in patterns from everyone in the class. Youve taken to them really well.

Thank you, Alexandra said simply. Practicing with the others has helped me a lot as well. Todd gave me some particularly insightful comments recently and Ive been working on incorporating them. I dont think Ive mastered my pattern just yet.

I havent mastered my own pattern yet, Noah said with a laugh. Id be seriously concerned if you thought youd mastered anything already. Youre still leagues ahead of the others, which is not something I say to disparage them but to acknowledge all the effort youve put in yourself.

Alexandra glanced over her shoulder and down the plateau at the class below. Her hand shifted to the hilt of her sword and she drummed her fingers against it. I am only ahead because I have no choice. Im a rank up on them, and yet I can feel them closing in. My Body Runes can only take me so far. I need to work harder. But no matter how hard I work, Ill eventually fall behind. I just want to delay that for as long as possible.

I dont think now is the right time to tell her I can modify her runes. I trust Alexandra enough to repair the damage she did to herself at some point, but if she knows theres a way out, it might distract her from patterns. The last thing I want right now is any sources of distraction.

Perhaps this is a bit scummy, but having all the extra motivation from thinking this is her only good option to get stronger cant hurt either. Its a very powerful driving force. Sorry, Alexandra. I wont be adjusting your thoughts there quite yet.

Which is what were doing here, Noah said. I believe youre ready for the next step so long as youre comfortable with taking your patterns farther.

Alexandra nodded. Im ready. But I have a question Id like to ask about the next step.

Feel free. What is it?

Is it inserting magical energy into your pattern?

Yeah. Noah nodded. Good guess. Why do you ask?

Because Ive been doing some thinking, Alexandra said, shifting from foot to foot and frowning uncomfortably. And I think I may have already done that by accident.